“In September 2018, I bookmarked an article that fascinated me. It was titled:Is it OK to be a writer and a __________? Written by Laurie Patton.

It was “an essay about continuous identity in a world which constantly asks us to align the self with its occupation.”

The writer asks us pertinent questions about the dual lives we lead, the writing life versus the non-creative writing occupation. She mentions famous poets and writers who lived “one identity at a time and also those who chose multiple identities” concurrently.

The part of the article that held my attention was the “tanpura principle in writing”. I quote her below:”

“The tanpura is a long-necked, lute-like instrument in Indian music that sustains the other instruments by providing a drone. Tanpura players do not provide their own melody, but pluck the instrument’s four strings in a continuous loop of rich tones, to provide a base from which the soloist can draw in singing or playing the raga melody.

The Tanpura Principle in writing is the idea that much of writing occurs while doing something else, because the base of poetic inspiration, the supporting drone, is always there…….. in poetry there was a kind of harmonic listening that could occur anywhere, and in any way.

What is the poetic hum in your life? What hums in the background of your life that inspires you as you unconsciously listen while you work and live? Is the drone always there or do you have to cultivate the inspiration?

In the midst of office politics–overworked, gossip buzzingaround me like black flies–

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About purplepeninportland

I am a freelance poet, born and bred in Brooklyn, New York. I live with my husband, John, and two charming rescue dogs–Marion Miller and Murphy. We spent eight lovely years in Portland, OR, but are now back in New York.
My goal is to create and share poetry with others
who write, or simply enjoy reading poetry. I hope to touch a nerve
in you, and feel your sparks as well.

i have often thought about enrolling in a creative writing course and now reading your poem gives me encouragement for my retirement years, so enjoyed the slow roll of your poem, taking me through a busy place, you absorbing the lives drama around you, a spectator of a play and then finding your own drone and inspiration. a lovely poem of contentment with the hum in your creative life

I think those of us who write are truly blessed to have this escape, if you will…this passion that takes us to a deeper, more meaningful place. A lovely expression of your inspiration….and I do love your purple, always have.